Complications, chapter 8

Tracking down the President was never an easy feat, but Jack was thankful that he managed to get by the usual roadblocks and had just heard the friendly, female voice ask him to 'please hold for President Palmer.'

"Jack, I trust this is important." David Palmer's authority was clear even through the phone lines. He wasn't in a particularly good mood either, considering he had been interrupted on one of his rare, open Saturday afternoons.

"It is, sir. And I'm sorry to have bothered you, but there's a situation here and I need your help securing the release of Ramon Salazar."

"What are you talking about, Jack? Why would I release him? More importantly, why do you want him released?"

"It's a long story, sir."

"Give me the short version of it." David didn't know the details of the case against Salazar, but he knew that Jack had been undercover for a long time before bringing him in and couldn't understand why he would want him freed.

"Ramon's brother, Hector, is demanding his release in exchange for a prisoner."

"Jack, you know the United States' position on this. You didn't need to call me. You already know that the answer is no."

"I know, sir. I don't intend to release him. But I do need to buy time so we can locate Hector. And, I might need to schedule an exchange to bring him out of hiding if we can't find him before then."

David could hear the lack of confidence in Jack's voice, something he wasn't used to hearing from an agent who normally held so much confidence. "There's something more here, Jack. Who is the prisoner?"

"Kate Warner."

"Warner, where do I know that name? Do I know her? More importantly, why her?"

"Her sister was involved with the terrorists that stole the nuclear bomb destined for L.A." He paused, unsure how to phrase the remainder of his response. Somehow telling the president that she was his 'girlfriend' seemed juvenile and failed to convey the importance of her role in his life.

"She helped us then. She helped me. We've been close ever since."

"What you're trying to tell me, Jack, is that she's important to you, right? That's why they took her?"

Jack nodded and then realized that the man on the other end of the phone couldn't see his answer. "Yes, sir. And I need to get her out safely before they hurt her anymore. Sir, she's pregnant."

David closed his eyes after hearing this latest fact. When he had fought to become president, he had done so because he had wanted the power to make decisions that affected people's lives. But the decisions he fought to make were ones of policy and law, not choosing between one life or another. He didn't want to have to decide between his stand against terror and the life, no the lives, of an innocent woman and child.

"Jack, I don't like this. You have too much on the line here."

"I've been here before, sir," Jack argued. "I'll do the right thing."

"Will you, Jack? I don't know if I would. If the time comes and your choice is between freeing Salazar or watching them kill her and her baby, you're going to let them kill her? I don't believe that, Jack. How can I when I can't say truthfully that I would make that choice. I can't say that if I were standing there watching them threaten her and her baby that I would let it happen. And I'm not you. They don't mean as much to me as they d o to you. Are you trying to tell me that you're prepared for that circumstance?"

Jack faltered. He couldn't lie to this man who had grown to trust him over the years. Finally, he spoke quietly in response. "No, sir, I'm not. But, I'm hoping desperately that it doesn't come down to that. We're doing everything we can here, but I can't delay him again. I tried that once and he hurt her."

David heard the catch in Jack's voice and felt the ache inside for the man's pain. He knew then that he couldn't refuse him. Even as he recognized that he would grant his request, he knew that his advisors would tell him that he had made the wrong choice. That he had put the life of one (or two) above the lives of many. All he could do was hope that it wouldn't come down to that. All he could do was place that hope into Jack's capable hands and pray that, once again, he could make it right.

"Alright, Jack. I'll get the necessary papers in place. Salazar will be released to your custody should the need arise."

Jack breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir. You won't regret this, sir." He almost added 'I promise', but stopped himself. He wasn't prepared to make that promise. He already knew that he wouldn't sacrifice Kate.

After ending the phone call, David called his brother, Wayne, who had recently replaced Mike Novick as chief of staff. "I just got off the phone with Jack Bauer from CTU Los Angeles. I've authorized the release of a federal prisoner to him. The prisoner is Ramon Salazar. I need you to make sure that the proper documentation is in place in the next fifteen minutes. And then, I want you to find out what's going on there. We need to monitor this situation closely."

David stared at the phone thoughtfully after the call ended. He realized that he had once again put his career on the line for Jack. Previously, he had trusted Jack's instincts. Now he had to put his trust in his ability to make the right choice. 'Who am I kidding? He's not going to make the right choice. I just need to pray that it doesn't come down to that choice.' He resolved instead, to put his trust in his abilities. It was a lot of trust.

"I should hire the man," he muttered aloud, shaking his head at himself, "if I trust him so much."

If Jack hadn't already been so scared, he might have jumped up and cheered when the President had finally agreed to the release. The first indications of their conversation had convinced him that he was going to refuse. The near constant pain in his stomach had intensified then and he worried that he might throw up while talking to the President of the United States. But then the President granted his request and the pain lessened.

He returned to the bullpen area just as Kim was entering. She rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him in a fierce embrace. Jack returned the embrace, needing the comfort her arms offered him. He was barely holding himself together and leaned into Kim, seeking the strength he felt from within her.

Kim was surprised to feel her father tighten his embrace. She was used to seeking his support, not the other way around. She had been so worried about Kate while driving to CTU that she didn't think about what her father was feeling. She leaned into him, squeezing tighter, wordlessly offering him her support.

After another minute, they parted. Kim walked with him to his office, not commenting on the disaster that it had become. A technician that Kim didn't know was preparing to leave as they entered.

"You're computer's back up, Mr. Bauer."

"Thanks, Ted. Can you ask Michelle to send the video she's monitoring back to my screen?"

Tony approached Michelle's work station just as she had finished sending the link to Jack's new monitor.

"How are you holding up?" he asked. He knew she was keeping her concern for Kate hidden behind the professional wall they all used to get through these situations. He also knew that her wall could only hold so much in, and hers would crumble soon. She and Kate had become friends over the time that Jack and Kate had dated. They all had, but Michelle had remained close to Kate even after Jack left. He remembered how angry he had been that she had kept Kate's secret from him.

"I'm doing okay, Tony. I'm really getting worried about Kate, though."

"Well, the President just gave Jack the okay to release Ramon if we need to. We're going to get her out of there."

He reached behind her and massaged the back of neck, pressing a kiss against her forehead. She allowed the comfort for a moment before stepping back.

"I know we'll get her out. I'm just worried that it'll take too much time. I noticed something and I haven't told Jack yet. I don't think he can handle anymore right now. I think Kate's having contractions."

Tony ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Are you sure?"

"Well, I can't be completely sure, but watch. If I'm right about the timing, you'll see her stiffen and her breathing will change."

Michelle glanced at her watch and increased the size of the image on her screen. They both watched as Kate jerked and then held herself still, her breaths becoming shallow and rapid. He looked back to Michelle who was glancing between the screen and her watch. She met Tony's eyes after Kate relaxed.

"She's in labour, Tony. That's the third one I noticed. They're about five minutes apart and they last about forty seconds. You know I've been going with her to those birthing classes. This is exactly how they described it. What are we going to do, Tony?"

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We're going to get her out. Let's focus on that."

Kim approached the couple as there conversation was ending. "Michelle, what do you need me to do?"

"Well…" she paused, taking time to sort the priorities in her mind. "Adam and Chloe have all the help they need tracing the IP address. In about twelve minutes Hector is going to call again and you father is going to set up an exchange. I need you to generate a list of the most likely candidates for the location. And, while you're working on that, put together a list of locations that would work best for us. Keep in mind the travel time from CTU and from the prison."

"Do you think Hector will let us choose where the exchange takes place?"

"Not really," Michelle admitted. "But we have to be prepared just in case."